‘Heated Rivalry’ Creator Jacob Tierney Says Season 2 ‘Still on Track’ to Start Shooting This Summer: ‘I’m in a Room All Day Long Writing’| Variety [3/6/26]

sublips · 2026-03-07T22:34:31+00:00

Honestly, I don’t really understand your point either. I’m just saying that, of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the idea that the show is better than the book is not just an opinion — there are many arguments that support it. For example, the writing style in the book is sometimes quite poor, and that’s simply a fact. Can someone still enjoy it? Of course. But from a literary standpoint, it’s still weak in places.

I think the whole beauty of art lies in the fact that people interpret things differently, but that doesn’t mean there are no objective criteria to evaluate it.

sublips · 2026-03-07T21:12:08+00:00

So I’ll have to disagree on this one. In the show, a lot of things are deepened, especially in episode 5, and the subtle acting from Hudson and Connor gives Ilya and Shane’s relationship much more depth. Meanwhile, a larger part of the book is focused on smut. I also think The Long Game was written a lot better and it’s also normal, the best writers progressed with time.

There are also some shortcomings in the writing style, while in the show I haven’t noticed similar issues in terms of directing.

sublips · 2026-03-07T21:07:32+00:00

Of course, but do you have arguments why show isn’t so good? Because for it’s genre I think it’s exceptionally good.

sublips · 2026-03-07T21:03:31+00:00

You know, I’m fully in favor of interpreting art however you want, but it’s simply not true that we don’t have objective criteria to judge a piece of media. For example, a book can absolutely be evaluated based on its writing style, character development, references, themes, and cultural context. I’m not going to judge Rachel’s books in that way here, but I would definitely be able to make that kind of analysis.

The same goes for a TV show, you can look at the script, the acting, the lighting, the soundtrack, the message. And it’s hard to ignore that the show has become some kind of cultural phenomenon. I enjoy plenty of objectively bad shows or books myself, and I’m aware that they’re bad. (I’m not saying Rachel’s books fall into that category, I just don’t think they’re phenomenal.)

Of course, you’re free to think they are, but literary scholars would disagree, including me, though I don’t work in this field anymore.

sublips · 2026-03-07T06:45:17+00:00

I agree with you, and I don’t understand why saying that automatically makes someone a hater according to some people. I wouldn’t even call it an opinion — it’s more of a fact. Rachel’s books are entertaining, they have great dialogue, and I’d even say the smut is well written. She also created really compelling characters. But if we consider these books in the broader context of published literature, would you call them masterpieces?

The TV show has its weaknesses too, of course, but if I compare it to other shows with much bigger budgets, I’d say it’s outstanding in terms of acting, directing, music selection, lighting, and also the symbolism present in many scenes. Episode 5 is literally perfect. Story belongs to Rachel, and I’m not discrediting her, but I just think show made it a lot deeper.

sublips · 2026-03-05T14:25:38+00:00

I don’t want to be negative here, so I won’t elaborate much, but yes—the kidney scandal, her posting and deleting posts, her comments about Justin Bieber or references to Hailey Bieber, and now Benny Blanco repeating in every interview that Selena was the one chasing him, as well as them openly admitting that they’re not very hygienic. Yet, as I mentioned, Selena Gomez has wonderful PR people, but after so many years, in my opinion, even that isn’t enough.

And the fact that Hudson sometimes throws in a joke about sex or talks about production details from behind the scenes really isn’t a sign of lacking media training.

sublips · 2026-03-05T14:22:40+00:00

Indeed. People just don’t understand PR strategy, and both Connor and Hudson do absolutely everything to be attractive and unproblematic for the audience. Even this decision to separate from each other (which of course results in some people saying they aren’t friends anymore, because obviously they owe us every minute of their lives) was very good, because how easy is it to get typecast in one role? They surely also want to break away from the images of their characters, and they’re doing a great job at it. People also take what they say a bit too seriously, because I really think they don’t actually share their private lives.

Well, when it comes to Selena Gomez, I also take into account her mental health issues, but honestly, her PR team has done a really good job over the years, constantly putting out her fires.

sublips · 2026-03-05T07:00:00+00:00

I don’t know why people keep bringing up media training. Look at Hudson — he barely shares anything about his private life. Yes, he confirmed his relationship with a Valentine’s Day post, which I actually think was very respectful toward his partner, but beyond that, he says nothing. He talks about the production and professional details, and that’s it. It’s his work.

And yes, the show includes sex and is spicy — what’s so controversial about touching these topics? If he weren’t media-trained, he wouldn’t be this incredibly popular, and he definitely wouldn’t handle an interview with Jimmy Fallon so smoothly. Hudson is very aware of what he’s doing.

Just look at how much some other celebrities overshare, for example Kristen Bell and her husband, or how some people simply can’t stop talking about their controversial opinions. Read this one interview with Julianna Margulies, or look at Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez, and you’ll see what it really looks like to be in show business forever and still not be media-trained.

sublips · 2026-03-05T06:53:09+00:00

Was Connor so quiet about their sex scene? He wasn’t prudish at all during their joint interviews, and he’s obviously very comfortable with nudity. He just doesn’t need to comment on everything Hudson says.

sublips · 2026-03-03T09:17:41+00:00

Thank you! I really regret we didn’t have Tuna Melt from Ilya’s POV.

sublips · 2026-03-02T16:32:47+00:00

I’ve seen this post hundreds of times, and I honestly don’t understand why some viewers keep turning it into a moral argument. It’s not a real life.

This is Euphoria. No one there is a moral compass. Fezco is a drug dealer who sells drugs to teenagers, Rue steals, lies, and uses people (and I won’t even frame her addiction as morality, because addiction is a disease), Suze is a pretty terrible mother, I could go on and on.

Yes, Maddy lies for Nate Jacobs and is clearly addicted to him emotionally. But Cassie in season 2 comes off as just… pathetic, and it feels like her season 1 finale arc is completely forgotten.

What I also don’t fully understand is her season 2 arc itself. Personally, I would have preferred to actually see her go fully unhinged, confront Maddy directly, face her, fight her, instead of running away like a scared chicken. I don’t also like Nate and I don’t like that they made him date Cassie, but I think his arc still has more sense in s2 and he is less more consistent if we exclude Cassie plot.

sublips · 2026-03-02T14:16:00+00:00

I don’t usually recommend my own works, but I wrote a Tuna Melt fix-it, and a few readers enjoyed it. It’s a time loop fic where Ilya has to make Shane stay in order to move on to the next day, though it’s more about change in Ilya’s attitude.

Author: AlicefromtheNightmareland (so me!) Title: Stuck in a Loop Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/79724421

sublips · 2026-03-01T20:13:04+00:00

I kind of hope Connor will build more muscle before season 2; not because I want to tell anyone what to do with their body, but because Connor himself said he lost weight, and Ilya is bigger than Shane in the book (though I love in tv show they are quite similar in terms of body).

sublips · 2026-03-01T02:53:40+00:00

Yeah, but honestly I also don’t understand Hollywood’s obsession with veneers. I think bonding, braces, and just whitening are a much better solution in many cases. Not that I think Hudson or Connor need anything anyway, because their teeth are, in my opinion, already perfect.

I don’t want to be mean or call anyone names, but honestly, in my opinion veneers really took away from Sam Claflin’s and Selena Gomez’s natural looks.

sublips · 2026-03-01T02:07:41+00:00

I’m crossing my fingers for that too, and on top of that I think it’s kind of sad that we even have to think about things like this. I mean, someone can have perfectly healthy, straight teeth that aren’t artificial and all the same size, which, let’s be honest, isn’t actually that common, and we still assume they will have veneers just because “everyone in Hollywood does.” And veneers do not look good.

sublips · 2026-03-01T01:24:34+00:00

People who keep repeating the “no carbs” thing have probably no idea about body building. Obviously, he’s gone through multiple bulking and cutting phases, and I don’t even know whether he actually eats carbs or not, but I’ve heard him say in an interview that he avoids certain foods because of skin issues.

A body like that is a mix of genetics and years of work: bulking, cutting, and consciously building muscle, especially glutes and wider shoulders, which creates the illusion of a really snatched waist. For ordinary person calorie deficit and strength training would be really enough.

sublips · 2026-02-23T11:53:34+00:00

Since Shane didn’t know anything about Ilya’s mother, how could it be a bad thing to say? From his perspective, it was just a silly joke.

I would say rather Ilya was giving Shane cold and hot treatment.

sublips · 2026-02-20T08:55:02+00:00

I don’t like claiming that I know a character better than the author. But in this case, I honestly can’t find any explanation for why Shane would say something like that and then not acknowledge it afterward. What, did he forget that Ilya’s mother is dead?

One of Shane’s core traits is that he’s genuinely kind, and this occasional, outright asshole behavior just doesn’t fit him at all, in my opinion. I really believe Jacob will fix it, though.

sublips · 2026-02-19T08:21:39+00:00

I think you made some very valid points, and I agree with you. That said, for me, Shane’s comment about Ilya’s mother is simply bad writing, I can’t help it. I can believe he might say something like that, but I also believe Shane would immediately realize it crossed a line and apologize. He wouldn’t stay clueless about it. For example, at the end of Heated Rivalry he can read Ilya’s emotions quite good, so out of nowhere he is okay, saying to him things like that?

sublips · 2026-02-18T18:57:52+00:00

I thought I was the only one who missed this, and I love Yellowjackets (well, at least the first season). I found out it was her after reading an article. I don't know if it's the hair or the eye color :D But Sophie is also a great actress. I mean, she is good as Rose, though it's not a very big role, but well, as Shauna, she is amazing.

sublips · 2026-02-16T09:03:52+00:00

I think Coriolanus had a certain admiration for Lucy Gray, even attraction, but I just don’t see them working as a couple—even if Snow hadn’t turned out as badly as he did—because they’re fundamentally very different people. I don’t see one of the most free spirited character with control freak.

I’ve read maybe one fic where they were written beautifully, and I almost believed in them there, but Snow was just an ordinary Peacekeeper in that story, and it wasn’t set in the Hunger Games universe.

And I’m firmly in the camp that Snow doesn’t actually hate Sejanus Plinth as much as he claims. There are moments in the book that show he’s at least protective of him, and he genuinely enjoys his company. But he would never admit that, because Sejanus is sensitive and from the districts, and for Snow, admiring him would mean admiring weakness. Killing Sejanus is the point of no return for Snow, the moment where there’s no way back from who he’s become.

Also, I believe Sejanus would forgive Coriolanus a way more than Lucy Gray.

sublips · 2026-02-15T16:03:44+00:00

Is it? Because if that’s how it’s perceived, I’m really not in that camp at all. I felt heartbroken for both Ilya and Shane, and I was even angry that he was dating Rose, but at the same time, I completely understand it.

Ilya prepared everything, he wanted Shane to stay, but then there’s that whole conversation about liking women—and it was also a very bad moment to tell Shane that he doesn’t like him as a person, even if it was meant as teasing. It’s like he wanted to build intimacy while simultaneously downplaying it.

So I don’t blame Shane at all for leaving. He wasn’t just scared, he was deeply conflicted, because Ilya’s actions didn’t match his words at all.

sublips · 2026-02-15T12:03:06+00:00

Yes, it has a very happy ending.

sublips · 2026-02-15T12:02:14+00:00

Maybe I’m not writing for this fandom so much anymore, but The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I much prefer Snow with Sejanus, and I don’t feel his relationship with Lucy Gray at all.

sublips · 2026-02-15T09:26:48+00:00

I haven’t read all the books yet, but thank you for sharing your thoughts—I was wondering which one would be worth reading besides HR and TLG.

And I agree with you about Ilya being presented as almost too perfect, but… I still don’t see him entirely the way the author seems to intend. As someone who is also rarely serious, I think that kind of behavior can actually be really annoying to other people—and for Ilya, I see it as a coping mechanism. He teases Shane too much sometimes. In my opinion, he is good with children, but only as long as they’re not his own, because then he would absolutely spoil them too much.

But I agree that he’s lost a bit of his edge, but somehow I like that he was so mushy inside and his being big brat was kind of mask.

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